Former Milan midfielder Massimo Ambrosini said Franck Kessie ‘is a top player’ but stressed the Rossoneri ‘should not be taken by the neck by anyone’.
The Ivory Coast international has not renewed with the Diavolo and Milan fans fear he might leave on a free transfer next season, like Gigio Donnarumma and Hakan Calhanoglu did this summer.
Ambrosini, who played 488 competitive games in the Rossoneri shirt and helped the club win four Scudetti and two Champions League titles, admitted he wishes Kessie will stay at San Siro.
However, the 44-year-old thinks Milan should ‘set a limit’ and only offer the best deal possible.
“He’s a top player and the market teaches us that more and more great players choose to reach the end of their contract to have much richer salaries elsewhere,” Ambrosini told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“I don’t know how much he can aspire to earn; we enter a private sphere that I don’t know. The question is: is it worth giving up more money to commit a project? For me, the answer is yes.
“He must understand what his desire really is, if the love for what they do and where they do it are the predominant aspect or not.
“A club like Milan should not be taken by the neck by anyone. Just make them the best possible offer, as it was for Donnarumma and Calhanoglu, but setting a limit.
“One must deserve to play for Milan. Kessie did it with the level of performances, with his leadership, always playing and never holding back.
“I hope for the good of Milan that Franck is happy with the offer and remains convinced of the choice.”
I don’t like seeing the players on already massive wages have this type of attitude when it comes to massive clubs like Milan so I hope they manage to tie him down or sell on their clause and not the player.
@Burky, Kessie currently earns 2.2m + bonuses so the offer at the moment is a substantial increase.
If not we should agree to their (him and his agent) exorbitant salary demands and immediately put him up for sale in the next transfer window.
Let’s save ourselves another important asset loss as Romagnoli is likely to be next. Pay them all what they want and if not in line with club’s budgets – SELL THEM in the subsequent window. We need to think of Milan first and foremost.
I think people are forgetting what a contract actually is. Once you have worked out a contract you are quite rightly free. If clubs don’t like that idea then they should sign players up for longer deals.
If he refuse to sign new deal do not negotiate and let him go for free
It’s exactly like Ambrosini said. This is the new theme in football. Players will let their contracts run down to have better bargaining chips on their next contracts. This is all the work of agents.
How should clubs fight it? Sell any player who doesn’t want to renew two years before the end of his contract. If it somehow reaches one and he still doesn’t want to renew, then send them to the stands for the whole year.
I believe Milan should do the same. They have to show that there is going to be consequences after Dollarumma and Cashanoglu incidents. Play Bakayoko, Tonali and Bennacer until he signs. Kessie is the best of them, but we’ll be fine.
No player is bigger than the club. If he doesn’t want to sign, push him aside!!
Bosman rule has been existing for years. Now players are using that for their own benefits. There is no loyalty or gratitude towards the club which raise them. I like Donna a lot but the way he left Milan is really disgusting. It is not like he earns a lot more in PSG. 6 million a year is a great salary for Kessie. 8 million for him would be too much.
Mercinaries playing with our emotion. Agents are quickly destroying this wonderful game with the aid of unloyal players brought up by the same clubs who made them famous. Shane.
Please sell those guys. Go for $$$$
Garbage sell them.
Would advise we grant his desire and then sell him next season…. Instead of losing out.